Sania advances in Eastbourne WTA qualifiers

Sania Mirza began her Aegon International qualifying campaign with a straight-set win over Mariana Duque Marino of Colombia in Eastbourne on Saturday.

The eighth seed Indian carved out a 6-4, 6-4 win over her unseeded opponent in one hour and nine minutes.

Playing her second tournament post marriage, Sania saved five breakpoints and broke her rival twice in both the sets to progress to the second round.

She next faces local wild card Jocelyn Rae, who beat Russia's Nina Bratchikova 7-6 (4), 6-2 in her first round match of the $600,000 grass court event, which is a build up tournament for the Wimbledon.

Sania had last week crashed out of the Birmingham WTA event in the second round.